Domenico Scarlatti and his 555 Sonatas

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This was requested by Lacoby Mills, tolower48, Krzysztof Q, KJ Wilsonator [Patron x3 Bonus], F.O.G. Productions, Mr. Mile, Hi, Adriano Seresi, Maria Luiza, and Magnus Saar. See all requests at lentovivace.com/classicalnerd....
📚 Sources/further reading:
“Domenico Scarlatti” by Ralph Kirkpatrick (Princeton University Press, 1953)
“The Keyboard Sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti and Eighteenth-Century Musical Style” by W. Dean Sutcliffe (Cambridge University Press, 2003)
“A Comparison of the Keyboard Sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti and Antonio Soler” by Ji-Eun Lee (MM dissertation, University of Cape Town, 2000)
“Somaesthetic Approaches to the Keyboard Sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti: Integration of Bodily Perception and Performance” by Emily Wallace (MA thesis, University of Oregon, 2019)
“Music of Domenico Scarlatti: Innovation and Style of His Keyboard Sonatas” by MingChih Hsieh (Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, Volume 554)
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Classical Nerd is a video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
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Music:
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K.9, performed by Martha Goldstein and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/2uk8u5ps
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2, arranged for harpsichord and performed on the fly by Thomas Little
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in E major, K.20, performed by Martha Goldstein and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/xy58jhsz
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in A major, K.24, performed by Gianluca Luisi and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/ba8k5ke5
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in B minor, K.27, performed by Raymond Smullyan and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/k3yrrr7p
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in G minor, K.30, performed by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/j8ywwys4
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in E minor, K.394, synthesized MIDI performance
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in B minor, K.87, performed by Gianluca Luisi and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/4ww7h5jt
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in E major, K.206, synthesized MIDI performance
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in D major, K.119, synthesized MIDI performance
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in A minor, K.175, synthesized MIDI performance
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in C major, K.159, performed by Gianluca Luisi and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/2m7yafxb
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in F minor, K.184, performed by Stefano Ligoratti and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/e67a7jp4
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in G major, K.305, synthesized MIDI performance
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in B minor, K.409, synthesized MIDI performance
- Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in A major, K.208, performed by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/5f4fu65m
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Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Facebook:
/ classicalnerd
Instagram:
/ the_classical_nerd
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All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.

[@ClassicalNerd]

If you notice my eyes moving around even more than usual, this is because I did a little experiment and set up a janky teleprompter to try to reduce the number of jump cuts. What do y'all think?

[@ftumschk]

It worked well for me. Fascinating talk, too!

[@TheProsaicCult]

It looks really good. By the way; Do you happen to be an organist? It is my favorite instrument.

[@ClassicalNerd]

I've played the organ (and was the organist for several years at my home church while in undergrad), but I'm not a trained organist.

[@TheProsaicCult]

@@ClassicalNerd Practical experience is as good as any. I thought I'd mention it as organ music has become a huge and ever growing part of this region thanks to the Eastman School of Music. One of it's bragging rights centers around it's relationship with Nathan Laube, the young and international recognized concert organist who can be listened to on KZbin. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqCXkqljpp5-eaM

[@sauvraelkemtet4359]

I didn't notice anything other than an awesome talk!

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

The lack of any evidence that Scarlatti ever chased someone with a sword points to the fact that he was a chill dude.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Scarlatti's idea of a duel: go back and forth with his buddy Handel Bach's idea of a duel: KILL THE BASSOONIST

[@henrykwieniawski7233]

@@ClassicalNerd Nanny goat bassoonist!!

[@en-blanc-et-noir]

haha :DDD true though

[@gammafoxlore2981]

@@ClassicalNerd To be fair, the bassoonist in question had gathered a gang of friends to "teach" Bach a lesson.

[@mitodrumisra8972]

Imagine chilling at your place with Scarlatti's sonatas and out of nowhere Morton Feldman comes in like sheesh

[@hauthot287]

He comes in with his 570 rats

[@00bean00]

...and then G. Henle Verlag comes in with uncatalogued works from the archives.

[@Mackeson3]

I am reminded of the story about Igor Stravinsky when someone just happened to mention to him that Vivaldi wrote 400 concerti. Stravinsky apparently replied :"No he didn't, he simply wrote the same concerto but he wrote it 400 times!"

[@gim12345]

Which was a pathetic comment.The only similarities in vivaldi happens between op3 and op4,his sacred,Wind and other violin concertos have totally different forms.Same for scarlatti

[@ChristianHuygens1]

Stravinsky is the last person to say that lmao, his compositions is just crappy.

[@polygondeath2361]

@@ChristianHuygens1 nope

[@ChristianHuygens1]

@@polygondeath2361 There isnt something special about Stravinsky

[@valerietaylor9615]

Scarlatti has been one of my favorite composers since I was eighteen. It’s a pity that frustratingly little is known about his personal life.

[@shark_username]

Timestamps of Scarlatti sonatas mentioned in the video, just for study purposes K394 - 18:39 K222 - 18:59 K120 - 23:19 K299 - 23:22 K206 - 28:09 K155 - 28:44 K107 - 29:05 K119 - 29:09 K175 - 29:49 K305 - 34:48 K502 - 35:06 K96 - 35:50 K409 - 36:17 K487 - 38:36

[@-pisellogrosso96-35]

i think that should be k119 instead of k199

[@kuradipingviin]

K115 not 155

[@doricdream498]

i absolutely love the running gag of morton feldman crashing at your place

[@ClassicalNerd]

I should have known he would follow me to Buffalo.

[@scottweaverphotovideo]

I've often thought lately I could be happy playing nothing but Scarlatti and Mozart for the rest of my life.

[@valerietaylor9615]

Scarlatti and Rameau, here.

[@GrahamCLester]

That was fascinating even though I didn't understand some of the technical musical stuff. Love Scarlatti though. It's nice to see his endless creativity acknowledged.

[@picksalot1]

Scarlatti is one of my favorite composers, and since I play guitar, I can easily hear the influences of it in his compositions. Though some of his compositions have been transcribed for guitar, and sound beautiful on it, sadly most remain outside of its playable repertoire. I love the dissonant chords he frequently used, as they harken back to the guitar style of moving fretted chords over open string to get unusual harmonies and polychords. I was particularly pleased that you talked about how Scarlatti cared more about how his music sounded, instead of how well it adhered to music standards and theory. It's always struck me that Scarlatti must of been committed to how good his music sounded, and that is part of what makes his compositions sound so popular and enjoyably infectious to my ears. Thanks for your informative look into one of most innovative composers of the Baroque. 👍😎

[@Milstein2008]

OMG, clusters in Scarlatti music? No way 😬😳😳😳😳

[@diogodomingues3190]

I find really funny that Scarlatti is one of the main caracters of José Saramago's "Memorial do Convento"

[@DenisPuscaOfficial]

the sonata that is played in the begining is in fact the one i am studying at the piano right now. that kinda cool

[@tonypazos5030]

when I look back at a painting I did 10 years ago and can still be happy with WONDERFUL, it works the same way with Scarlatti music I have listended TO SONATAS endless times and each time it is a thrill, not boring MUSICAL PHRASES like BACH OR BETHOVEN. I started playing Scarlatti in 1971 fresh out of highschool playing classical guitar and now I am 70 yrs of age and still marvel at the genius and originality of scarlatti

[@kyleconductorandtuba]

I want a metal band to play K 119 with that sick double bass pedal, I feel like that would work well 😂🤘

[@aayyiss]

Great video! IMO one of the best composers to ever grace this planet.

[@ili626]

Love this channel

[@danielarmstrong9080]

I know that, similar to Scarlatti, relatively little is known about Purcell's actual personality. Despite that I'd absolutely love to see a video about him. His music for the theatre is talked about so seldomly, and it really contains some absolute gems (Fairest Isle, The Cold Song, Here the Deities Approve, etc.) He has a really interesting harmonic language- some examples of which I've not been able to find in his contemporaries (for instance, some of the dissonances in Hear My Prayer, O Lord.) You get tons of requests so I totally understand if he doesn't get covered- just thought I'd throw my opinion in the ring. Thanks so much for all the fabulous and educational content!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@danielarmstrong9080]

@@ClassicalNerd thanks!

[@diegofustes790]

oh man i do love this channel ❤

[@TheRealDannAlexander]

You are wiser far beyond your age Mr. Classical. Grateful for your wisdom. I learn lots

[@ajhigginscomposer]

Great episode. Didn't expect C. Wesley to be a Scarlatti fan.

[@fredhoupt4078]

simply delightful. I kept on wanting you to take a detour and comment about the stylistic chops of famous Scarlatti performers such as Horowitz, Argerich, Pogorelich and of course Glenn Gould. Loved it.

[@magdalene2229]

I absolutely love the little plays! Please keep them up! The recurring Feldman is so funny.

[@valerietaylor9615]

I find him rather annoying.

[@brendaboykin3281]

I Love Morton!!! Thank you for more content, Thomas. Hope all is well. Lentils! 🌹🌹🌹

[@ClassicalNerd]

You are so welcome, Brenda!

[@henrykwieniawski7233]

Man, I’ve been waiting for a Scarlatti video! Also, you kind of remind me of Gale Boetticher if he was a music historian! :)

[@ClassicalNerd]

You know, that's not the first time that name has come up in comments-the first time, I had to Google who that was! (I'm thinking it's a compliment, but I don't quite know how to feel when compared to a fictional meth cook.)

[@qwaqwa1960]

Amazing how he anticipated the 555 timer.

[@andreyv116]

Ha!

[@dc8955]

You are very knowledgeable it shows that you have studied well.

[@ericrakestraw664]

I've been practicing some Scarlatti sonatas on the piano this past month, so this video was very timely for me.

[@darionbuck8864]

Do they make good practice? Is the left hand pretty active?

[@ericrakestraw664]

@@darionbuck8864 Yes, lots of imitation in both hands but much simpler counterpoint than in Bach.

[@Gguy061]

Spain had an army of Scarlatti clones who composed in his Baroque-Galant style up to the turn of the 19th century. I hope Classical nerd mentions Antonio Soler

[@ClassicalNerd]

Soler didn't make the final draft of the script (it was long enough already), although I do cite a dissertation analyzing the two composers' careers and styles in the video description.

[@valerietaylor9615]

There was a composer named Mateo Albeniz ( no relation to Isaac) who wrote Scarlattiesque sonatas as late as the 1820s. The harpsichord also hung on in Spain and Portugal long after it had gone out of style in the rest of Europe.

[@abocas]

Love the intro :-)

[@jonathanmosebach2921]

Have you ever done a video on Ligeti? I would love that! Working on trying to comprehend and get his Requiem in my brain this year!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Yes-but it's quite a bit older, so it's not as in-depth as something like this video.

[@quinnsine1650]

I like watching and rewatching these videos with increasing understanding of these artists and their art. It’s horrifying though now recognizing all the background audio.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Horrifying ... ?

[@quinnsine1650]

@@ClassicalNerd okay maybe I’m hamming it up a little, but it’s weird looking back at when I first watched this video and heard the background music as just “harpsichord sounds” and to now, when I’ve listened to said “harpsichord sounds” a million times and can anticipate every step that the piece is gonna make.

[@aliciadalbey1201]

The skits are great

[@williamsmith5549]

I just discovered your channel on this Friday past, and OMG you are amazing! Are you still completing your Doctoral work, if so, where? What's your ultimate professional goal? In a proper world, you would be a major TV personality! Oh well, I'm just grateful for all you do, looking forward to more!

[@ClassicalNerd]

I'm between my second and third years of a PhD in composition at the University at Buffalo. I'd love to stay in academia but honestly, as long as I'm involved in music in some capacity, I'll have a happy career!

[@williamsmith5549]

@@ClassicalNerd I am an Orchestra Teacher in the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY (and spent ten years in a disktrict northeast of Baltimore, then twelve in Scottsdale, AZ,then a year in Nanjing China beforee that, lol). My degrees are from the University of Michigan and the University of Maryland. The Muse takes us where she wants us, of course! Anyway, have watched a number of your videos by now, looking forward to more. I'm also enjoying your compositions. Hope to stay in touch!

[@eric-mickyaliwata5885]

I was just searching your channel for video on Vivaldi but found none - are you going to do video about him also someday?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@qwaqwa1960]

In England, some sonatas were transcribed for strings (Avison?).

[@valerietaylor9615]

Charles Avison.

[@robkeeleycomposer]

Thank you for this entertaining and fabulously informative video. Some of these 555 ) are organ fugues (including the 'Cat's Fugue'), some of which are long, uncharacterstic and rather dull. W Dean Sutcliffe, in his excellent book, points out that Kirkpatrick gave no 204 TWO sonatas, a and b, for no very good reason. other than to result on a nice memorable number! Plus a number (I think around 10) multi-movement sonatas for violin and keyboard continuo. But this is a great video, well up to CN's excellent standard.

[@MaximilianMKGill]

You should do a video on John Williams.

[@Mackeson3]

No, Thomas only does videos about great composers 😉

[@MaximilianMKGill]

@@Mackeson3 John Williams is a great composer name a composer who composed as memorable melodies.

[@lockjiang]

this is the kind of wholesome talk that we nerds really need, scrap all the rest derivative nonesense

[@junomoon6337]

Can you go over telemann? He is very underrated

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@neo-eclesiastul9386]

Thomas, you should definitely do more cosplaying! It is such a delight to see you impersonating Morton Feldman and even Bach)) Still waiting for the Ives, tho)))

[@Renshen1957]

The Fortepianos of Cristofori and his disciples did not have a sustain/damper pedal. The fortepianos of Gottfried Silbermann and his students had a hand actuated stop push on and push off. Queen Barbara inherited 5 Italian Fortepianos with compasses of GG-d’”, of which she had 3nconverted into harpsichords. The court builder to the King and Queen also built the same compass for harpsichords single manual (one as a surprise from Farinelli) and the 5 octave instruments by Diego Fernandez, 1757 order for payment built the two single GG-g”’ and the FF-g’’’ for the Infante Gabriel’s also a single manual. The only double manual I recall, a passing reference to an English one the marvel of Madrid, although there it wasn’t playable due to the difference of Spain’s climate to the UK but that’s from pre-internet time. Yes the Infanta Barbara’s father the King of Portugal owned a clavichord C-c”’, so any 4 octave Sonata seemed to be claimed by clavichordists, however as Italian Harpsichords are also 4 octaves, and clavichords were called monochords and harpsichords were called clavichord in both Spain and Portugal there’s some question as to the accuracy of the statement. As late as 1757 the Clavichord de plumes was being used (most likely to distinguish the harpsichord from the piano). In other words the octave argument requires the pedal not yet seen in Spain or Italy or the UK doesn’t hold water. And from the collections known as Venice and Parma from which the Sonatas of Scarlatti source, each has the Italian Cembalo (harpsichord) wtitten by the copyists. There are at least one Scarlatti sonata with organ stops (Flute and Trombone as translated) some list two or three. The are also Five Sonatas in Two Patrs with continuo figures: Sonatas K81, K88, K89, K90, & K91 each in 4 movements. There’s arguments over these were arrangements by another or Scarlatti.

[@ozspierer4732]

Daddy chilll

[@Jellzorro]

Interesting to hear that you think using a guitar instead of a piano to compose results in a different harmonic and tonal language. It's difficult to find any research or writing about that subject so I'd love to hear more about it from you!

[@ClassicalNerd]

It's a subject without a whole lot _of_ research into it, actually, although it seems to be fairly common thought in classical guitar circles; I first heard about it from a guitarist friend of mine who thought it would make for a great (if exhaustive and daunting) dissertation project. The basic idea is that the chord shapes that guitarists make on the fingerboard stay the same as they move up and down. Playing a major triad across three strings will sound the same if you move everything up or down the same number of frets. If you do that on a piano, C Major will become D minor. Guitarists thus tend to think of harmonic relationships differently because their tactile relationships to how those harmonies are played is different. So many of the basic assumptions of our notation system-and thus the ways in which composers construct harmonies-are based around a keyboard-centric approach; keys and accidentals fit with the visual component of the keyboard far better than they do the guitarists' fingerboard.

[@valerietaylor9615]

Hector Berlioz was one of the few composers who didn’t have at least a basic command of the piano ( his parents didn’t want him to pursue a musical career, but he taught himself to play the flute, flageolet, and guitar.) A critic once complained that Berlioz didn’t play any instrument well. “ The orchestra is my instrument”, Berlioz retorted. His command of orchestration is remarkable, incredible even.

[@andreyv116]

Is there a full length harpsichord arrangement of dance 2?

[@ClassicalNerd]

No, there's only the opening and closing themes. I just set up my portable mic next to the harpsichord in the lobby of the Sigal Music Museum and noodled around. (It's not even enough to post as a bonus on Patreon, as I've done for organ and Balinese gamelan transcriptions of the theme).

[@magmasunburst9331]

I googled "Morton Feldman glasses" but I don't see any for sale.

[@ClassicalNerd]

I have it on good authority that this is the official Feldman supplier: www.amazon.com/Skeleteen-Black-Oversized-Thick-Glasses/dp/B08YLQKJD7/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=oversized+glasses&qid=1637615050&sr=8-28

[@chrisamies2141]

Could I add a request for Edward Elgar please? Thank you.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@griegloverify]

Unrelated to this video, but can you do a biography of the Soviet composer Dmitri Kabalevsky ?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@Michail_Chatziasemidis]

Well, he needed 111 more.

[@valerietaylor9615]

I wish he’d written 1,000.

[@chopin4525]

Ok, Daddy! :)

[@ClassicalNerd]

Well, coming from Chopin, I'll take that as a compliment

[@adrianoseresi3525]

:DDDDDDD wowowowowow my name appeared in a classical nerd video! Is it christmas?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Not quite, but all the Christmas music I've heard at every retail outlet in the past month begs to differ

[@tamed4171]

29:30 Ah I didn't know Scarlatti had 6 fingers on his right hand!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Or maybe he had a second, slightly smaller set of arms below the usual ones. (It would make writing all that music a lot faster ...)

[@wilh3lmmusic]

In case you actually want to know how to play that: play the D and E with the thumb across both keys

[@jonahmatos8829]

thx daddy

[@MilesTV2010]

You should do Bedrich smetana

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@victoruchoa9170]

can you make a video about agustin barrios? the best classical guitar composer of all time in my opinion, i think you would love him as well (:

[@ClassicalNerd]

You already requested Barrios.

[@eliotmccann2589]

Excellent analysis as ever- and do yerself a favour and skip town before Feldman makes bail... ;)

[@wilh3lmmusic]

I knew as soon as he walked in that the guy was Feldman because of those glasses…

[@Johnkiernanmusic]

I would also like a random noble title. :D

[@ClassicalNerd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boLXmKBrnJp6r9E

[@roofydoofy2210]

I thought this was a family friendly channel?... daddy?

[@chia-lisung54]

I only wish you turned up the volume when you recorded this....

[@ClassicalNerd]

I can't realistically use my lav mic during skits. If your complaint is about the rest of the video, I'd say that's on your end and not mine ...

[@alvarobyrne]

there's the atari punk console just saying

[@theopenmouth9695]

this is so based

[@jaceweyant7418]

daddy

[@B4Block]

Scarlatti kept it 55th Street

[@Cryseris]

1:48 daddy

[@itsalie]

i think Bucket Head and Prince are more prolific writers.

[@Gguy061]

All I've ever wanted was to get paid and get laid for being a classical musician. I wish I lived in 18th century Venice instead of 21st century SoCal. Dead by 50? I've always said quality over quantity!

[@dlg1111]

Wow no one called him daddy yet in the comments 😂

[@ClassicalNerd]

Scroll down far enough, and you'll find ... _some_

[@kkngd391]

I saw a comment directly below yours that called him daddy lmfaooo

[@valerietaylor9615]

Some people will do anything to be annoying.

[@dnuma5852]

my foster parent finally told me who my biological parents were, and youre my dad! hi daddy!

[@bazingacurta2567]

You're 25? What the hell?

[@dc8955]

What is with the rodens?

[@ClassicalNerd]

... rodens?

[@valerietaylor9615]

Rodents.

[@2li678]

He was 111 short.

[@darionbuck8864]

Booo

[@NicholasNorway]

Ok